1983 Dick Johnson Racing Greens - Tuf

One of those moments came at Bathurst in 1983. A previous Bathurst winner and reigning touring car champion, Johnson along with co-driver Kevin Bartlett rolled into Bathurst that year with an amazing looking car in Greens'-Tuf that was seriously fast. Johnson's qualifying times were strong to have the car in 2nd place on the grid provisionally despite using older tyres. They were easily one of the favourites to win the Great Race.

Then came that fateful lap in the Hardie's Heroes to determine the first 10 starting positions of the race.

Johnson started his lap and was looking a real possibility to be starting the race on pole but never got to finish. A slide in the rear at the exit of Forrest's Elbow saw the big Falcon clip the wall and drag the right front wheel into a concrete filled tyre stack, breaking the steering and sending Greens'-Tuf flying into the trees.

The car was totaled, thankfully Johnson wasn't and exited the wreck un-injured.

Ultimately Johnson and the team managed to source a replacement XE and took to re-fitting it with the race engine from the wrecked Hardie's Heroes Falcon along with other bits and pieces and re-painting it in the Greens'-Tuf colour scheme overnight. It didn't look as finely polished as the Hardie's Heroes version but the 'morning after car' was a massive achievement in team work and the car was rolled out to the grid on race morning - with the paint still drying - to start from 10th on the grid. Unfortunately a fairytale win wasn't to be, the hastily built car had multiple issues during the race and ultimately didn't finish, completing 61 laps of the race.

This illustrated print features the Hardie's Heroes Greens'-Tuf XE prior to its trip through the trees in a quality and style never before seen and celebrates one of the most iconic cars in Bathurst 1000 and Dick Johnson Racing history.

Authentic Collectables are pleased to present our range of motorsport themed Jigsaw Puzzles.

In this series, we present artwork by Greg McNeill with this edition depicting the iconic Dick Johnson Racing Greens'-Tuf Ford Falcon XE at Bathurst as it famously clipped the wall exiting Forrests Elbow.

Greg McNeill is hailed as Australia's best contemporary motor racing artist. He began his career in the mid-1980s and specialises in sport and mechanical illustration. You may recognise his style from the covers of the mid '90s Bathurst 1000 Offical Programs.

His vibrant works depict all forms of motorsport past and present and his paintings are sought after by enthusiasts and collectors all over the world.